TAIHAPEITE IN ENGLAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 13 December 1915, Page 3

TAIHAPEITE IN ENGLAND.

LETTER FROM MRS. BATT. HOSPITAL WORKER IN ENGLAND,

A letter received by Mrs. W. McLennan frcm Mrs. Batt, wife of the late Captain Batt, who went to England early in the war to offer herself free in any capacity she could be of service to the authorities, contains some interesting particulars cf her doings and peregrinations. Mrs. Batt says that when she arrived in London no work of any kind was offering as they had plenty cf nurses and ether assistance, so she left London. ‘“And thankful,” she says, “I am that I did so, or I might have been blown to pieces like seme of the poor things. I was told it was a sad sight; you could not recognise seme of them. I have some good news to tell you—they say it all comes to them that wait. I have got just what ,1 have been longing for, that is to be of some good in this great trouble. I was born in Worcester, so I made my way there, made myself known and what I wanted. I also showed them the cutting from the Taihape Daily Times about myself. I made my way to> some people that could help me with the leaders of Red Cross work, and, I can tell you they were not long in writing to rno (letter enclosed). I called and accepted what they offered, that was to wait on wounded soldiers. (Now for a bit of surprise for you in Taihape: When I went to see the Commandant she told me there were some New Zealand beys in the hospital. One was a Mean, I asked, and was allowed to see him. He wa s . so pleased to see me and told me he came from Gisborne. He gave me his address, T am sending it to you. Another came from Wanganui; he told me that he worked at cca.chb'uilding for Mr. Hiclierson, Ridgway street. Another came frcm Wellington. I think that alone was worth my corning tc England for; they are all so pleased. If you could only see them your heart would cry cut fer them. We are getting 25 more beds ready for men coming. They told me they thought therd were some New Zealand bcy s among them. I will do my very boat fo v ' them. Everyone here is doing the work free, they are mostly doctors’ wives and the daughters of leading people. They do Ihe cocking, nursinv. washing-up — anything and everything that wants doing. Igo at S in the morning (Sundays ag well) and leave at 3 in the afternoon. T will give more news next time I write. —I am, yours truly, Elizabeth Batt. Worcester, October 12th, 1915.